NEW DELHI: The winter session of Parliament is set to begin on an acrimonious note, with the government and the Opposition on a warpath over voting on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.

Both sides showed no signs of softening their stance at an all-party meet called by Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar on Wednesday, a day before the month-long session begins.

The government is likely to feel the heat of a united Opposition on the issue of FDI. BJP and the Left insisted on debating the issue under rules that entail voting, accusing the government of reneging on its assurance to the House that it will not go ahead with opening the multi-brand retail sector to FDI without consulting parties and stakeholders.

Later, BJP also submitted a breach of privilege notice to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari against Union minister Anand Sharma, saying he had told the House on December 7, last year, that the decision to permit 51 per cent FDI in multibrand retail would be suspended till a consensus was evolved after consultations among stakeholders.

The same assurance was given in the Lok Sabha by the then leader of the House, Pranab Mukherjee, who is now the President.

The face-off is bound to disrupt proceedings as the government has indicated that it is unlikely to give in to the Opposition's demand for voting on the issue.

Commerce minister Anand Sharma and parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath have said there is no precedence of an executive decision being challenged in Parliament.

However, Trinamool Congress' proposal to move a no-confidence motion against the government had no takers at the meeting. A no-confidence motion requires support of at least 54 members, 10 per cent of the strength of the Lok Sabha.

As the meeting began, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj expressed her party's intention to raise the FDI issue under a rule entailing a vote and appealed that it be accepted. "We want the House to run. There are several issues waiting to be discussed. But our precondition is that the issue on which an assurance was given to the House be taken up first under a rule that entails voting," she told reporters later.

She said the assurance given by Mukherjee was violated by the government. "It is important for political parties to express their views on FDI in retail in Parliament. This can be done only through voting," she said. JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said the government should not make voting on FDI a prestige issue.

After the meeting, Swaraj also submitted a notice under Rule 184 for a discussion and vote. CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said that the promise to Parliament had been violated.

"It is from here that we derive our strength to press for this matter. But we want the House to run," he said. Dasgupta also emphasised on raising the economic situation and demanded a white paper from the government on it.

CPM's Basudeb Acharia, whose party has given notices for discussing FDI in multi-brand retail under Rule 184, which entails voting, also raised the issue of economic crisis.

DMK's TR Baalu said the government should discuss with all political parties under what rule the issue should be taken up.

DMK has also opposed FDI in retail, but is yet to spell out its stand if there is voting on it on the floor of the House. Outside supporters of the UPA — SP and BSP —have also voiced opposition to the decision.

However, SP has indicated that it may not vote against the government as the decision has been left to the states. NCP leader Sharad Pawar said it was up to the Speaker to decide under what rule the issue should be debated.